Increases in aminotransferases levels are frequently encountered in HIV-positive patients and often remain unexplained. The role in this setting and natural history of hepatitis E in HIV-infected patients are unknown. The aim of the study was to assess HEV infection in HIV-infected patients attending a Parisian hospital, with a current or previous cryptogenic hepatitis.191 plasma samples collected from 108 HIV-infected patients with elevated aminotransferases levels were retrospectively tested for the presence of hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection markers: anti-HEV IgM antibodies, anti-HEV IgG antibodies, anti-HEV IgG avidity index and plasma HEV RNA.One acute infection, documented by positive tests for anti-HEV IgM antibody, low anti-HEV IgG avidity index and plasma HEV RNA (genotype 3e), and three past infections were diagnosed, without any observed case of persistent infection. The acute hepatitis was benign and resolved spontaneously within two weeks. This infection was probably contracted locally. Acute HEV hepatitis can occur in HIV-infected patients but rarely explains cryptogenic hepatitis, at least in an urban HIV population, regardless geographic origin and CD4 counts.

By April 1995, 302 cases of vertically acquired HIV infection had been reported through the British Paediatric Association Surveillance Unit. Over 50% of these children had developed an AIDS indicator disease, including nine malignancies (seven cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and two of Kaposi's sarcoma). There were two other malignancies that were not AIDS indicator diseases. In children less than 5 years of age the incidence of NHL was approximately 2500 times greater than expected in the UK child population. Three children presented with NHL as their AIDS indicator disease and four developed NHL at a median of 14 (range 10-19) months after the initial diagnosis of AIDS. Six of the seven children died at a median of 6.5 (range 2-14) months after the diagnosis of NHL. The seventh child responded to treatment and is alive nearly four years later. Histology was available in five cases, of which four were of B cell and one of T cell origin. Epstein-Barr virus was detected in all three patients with NHL where it was sought; all had B cell lymphomas. Although comparatively rare, malignancies occur in children infected with HIV and may be the presenting illness. Paediatricians now need to consider HIV infection as a predisposing cause of childhood cancer, especially NHL.

A high-performance Auger spectrometer has been used to separate the bulk and interface contributions to the Auger spectra of the As/Si(100) interface. Combining these results with measurements of the photoelectron spectra of core levels shows that the Auger-parameter shifts between atoms at the interface and in the bulk elements are -0.64+0.04 eV for As and 0.68+0.04 eV for Si. The Augerparameter shifts are analyzed in terms of recent theoretical models that indicate that there is a small charge transfer of -0.2e from Si to As at the interface.

Prospective biochemical, virological and selected immunological follow up has been done for up to 32 months on 15 previously untreated haemophilic boys following treatment with an intermediate purity dry heated factor VIII concentrate (BPL 8Y). Tests for liver function and antibodies to blood-borne viruses have been assessed monthly for the first year after starting treatment and thereafter every 2 months. All patients were immunized against hepatitis B and have not developed hepatitis B core antibodies and no boy has shown any rise in alanine transaminase level nor has anyone developed antibodies to hepatitis C (HCV). All patients have remained anti-HIV seronegative. T lymphocyte subsets have been measured approximately every 4 months and in no patient has there been a significant rise in CD8+ cells; one patient showed a significant decrease in CD4+ cells but these and all CD4+ values for the other boys remained within normal age related limits. Changes in CD4+ levels in this one boy were not related to the total amount of treatment received. This group of patients who appear not to have contracted HIV, hepatitis B or non A non B hepatitis following treatment with this intermediate purity factor VIII concentrate have also not shown any consistent changes in CD4+ or CD8+ cells, which have been recorded previously in frequently treated haemophiliacs.

SulnmaryThe molecular geometries of acetylacetonatodiethylenerhodium(1) and acetylacetonatoethylenetetrafluoroethylenerhodium (I) show that CzF4 is more closely bound to rhodium than C,H4, a consequence of increased n-bonding.ALTHOUGH the Chatt-Dewar scheme provides a good conceptual description of the bonding of olefins to transition metals, the relative importance of the a-and n-contributions to the bond is a controversial topic. We have determined the crystal structures of two bis-olefin-rhodium(1) complexes,

These results suggest that HBV/HDV MTC co-transmission is exceptional. Studies are needed, mainly in developing countries.

Rh,(CO),, has been shown by I3C n.m.r. to have i.r. spectrum2 of Rh,(CO),, when compared urith that of the same structure in solution as in the crystal, and the CO,(CO),, strongly suggests that the C,, structure persists changes in line shape as a function of temperature are in solution, conclusive evidence has been lacking. A consistent with a CO scrambling mechanism which has the carbon-13 n.m.r. study from about 0" to + 60" showed that fully symmetric (Td) structure as an intermediate. rapid intramolecular equilibration of the carbonyl groups O C C U~S ,~ as previously p~s t u l a t e d ,~ but fell short of affording either structure proof or direct evidence for the mechanism of the scrambling of CO groups. We now report a low THE structure of Rh,(CO),, in the crystal has been demonstrated to possess idealised C,, symmetry (1).1 While the

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